The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Click.

The moment the phone call ended, Godfrey’s front door swung open again.

Vivienne glanced down at the huddled Martinez family by the doorway; her lips pursed into a slight smile. “Mr. Martinez, such formalities are hardly necessary.”

“Everybody up, now!”

Stellan’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he glared at Leopold, sprawled out behind him.

A cluster of people awkwardly rose to their feet, their faces painted with awkwardness. “Uh, Ms. Hawthorn, we’re really grateful for your help. Please, stay for dinner to thank you for taking care of my father.”

Audrey, lounging on the sofa, glanced over and snorted disdainfully, then looked away, indifferent to whether Godfrey lived or died.

“Stellan, aren’t you even gonna ask?” But she couldn’t stand to see the Martinez family have it easy. “What if Ms. Hawthorn’s treatment kills Dad?”

Griffin’s retort was sharper, “Because we’re not blind, we can see with our own eyes. Unlike you, sitting there like a frog in a well!”

As soon as Vivienne entered the room, she used her silver needles to stabilize Godfrey, halting his convulsions. The rest of her methods were a mystery to them.

But through the open door, they could see Godfrey’s color improving under Vivienne’s care. Clearly, her treatment was working.

Ignoring Audrey’s sour expression, Griffin cuddled up to Vivienne. “You’re amazing, Vivienne. You’re my hero!”

Leopold beamed with pride at the compliments directed at Vivienne, more pleased than if they were for himself. “Of course, you’ve seen who Vivienne is with, right? Let me tell you, when it comes to medicine, there’s no one better than her.”

Percival raised an eyebrow. “Sucking up won’t help you. Remember, you’re paying for the scratch you put on my car.”

puppy-dog eyes, “Considering I’m your youngest junior,

“Remember to pay

a day old when Leopold’s impromptu stunt left a glaring scratch on it! God only

out of the woods yet. He’ll need a couple more treatments. This toxin is a new one, and we might need

quite familiar with this,”

the same issue yesterday. Luckily, someone was

was solely targeting her mother. Turns out,

lurked in the shadows while she stood in the light. This adversary was proving

have other matters today, so we’ll be taking our leave,” Vivienne said,

ancient warrior lineages. See if there’s

enemy is likely experimenting with a drug to control neural functions, which is why Godfrey was in that

narrowed at her words. “You’re saying my father

thought of that particular family, and Stellan seemed

at Audrey, silent on

assured. This concerns my father, and I will investigate thoroughly. However, if he has another episode,

flickered, and with a nonchalant wave, she said, “It’s no trouble at all. Now, if you’ll excuse us,

“Huh?”

you mean, ‘huh’? You wrecked Vivienne and Percival’s car; now get moving

them, I’ll take them. But why

were driving; you pay up. Surely, you’re going to say you can’t even afford that much,

“Who said I can’t?”

especially not in matters

one car! Even if

“You want to wreck

didn’t mean that. I was just… making an example,